Shoe construction



July 8, 1958 A. J. GIANNONE SHOE CONSTRUCTION Filed Oct. 29. 1956 2 G I F 4 2 1111 n.1, V mm iillli filwu W INVENTOR A n fhony J. Giannone ATTORNEY United States Patent 2,841,892 SHOE CONSTRUCTION Anthony Joseph Giannone, Saugerties, N. Y. Application October 29, 1956, Serial No. 618,741

3 Claims. (CI. 36-34) This invention relates to a shoe construction and more particularly to a heel structure and to the manner in .which :I; by conventional machining operations.

the heel is attached to the sole of the shoe.

In manufacturing womens shoes having high heels, it is particularly important that the heel of the shoe be rigidly attached to the sole. Because of the dictates of fashion, the heels of womens shoes are becoming higher t and slimmer, and the stresses exertedat the heel to sole junction are being increased accordingly. While the rigidity of the heel assembly is of primary importance, the question of economy is of special importance to the manufacturer. high heel which may be attached to the shoe rigidly, yet quickly and economically have not been entirely successful. Moreover, the prior art devices do not always ensure the correct location and orientation of the heel on the sole, resulting in rejects or seconds.

It is accordingly a primary object of the present invention to provide a unique shoe construction which overcomes the deficiencies of prior constructions.

Another object of the invention is to provide a unique heel structure and improved arrangement for attaching j appreciably b ve the upper surface of the plate 12 when the heel to the sole of the shoe. I

A further object of the invention is to provide a heel that is extremely slim in appearance and yet is rigidly attached to the sole of the shoe.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a novel heel which may consist of only two major parts.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a heel incorporating elements which align the heel and the sole properly and at the same time serve to attach the heel to the sole.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a heel having a unique arrangement of skeleton and covermg.

The foregoing and other objects of the invention will become more apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description of an exemplary embodiment of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing illustrating this embodiment and wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the basic heel construction of the invention;

Figure 2 is a sectional view illustrating the manner in which the finished heel is attached to the sole of the shoe;

Figure 3 isa plan view of a portion of the heel covering; and

Figure 4 is a plan view of another portion of the heel covering.

Briefly stated, the invention contemplates the provision of a heel having two major parts, to wit, a plate and a stud. The plate is uniquely constructed so as to align the heel properly with respect to the sole and to attach the heel rigidly thereon. The skeleton heel thus defined may be covered in a novel manner.

Referring to Figure 1, the heel construction 10 of the invention comprises a plate 12 and a stud 14. The surface of the plate may be surved slightly as shown so The prior art attempts to design a slim at the rear extremity. Each of the bosses has an internally threaded hole 17. The lower surface of the plate is provided with a projection 18 which is. preferably tapered as shown. The projection also contains an internally threaded bore 20.

The plate 12 and its bosses 16 and projection 18 are preferably formed integrally in a single casting or molding operation. The plate is preferably. formed from a suitable metal, such as brass or bronze. The cast ormolded plate is then provided with the threaded holes 17 and 20 The threaded holes 17 and the bosses 16 are substantially perpendicular to'the upper surface of the plate, but the projection 18 and the threaded hole 20 are arranged obliquely with respect to the upper surface of the plate.

The stud 14 has a threaded end 22, as shown in Figure 2, which is arranged to be received within the threaded hole 20 of projection 18. The angle of the threaded hole 20 may be varied within reasonable limits to vary the angle at which the stud 14 is oriented with respect to the upper surface of the plate 12. The opposite end of the stud is provided with an internally threaded blind hole, as indicated at 24 in Figure 2, which is arranged .to receive a small countersunk head screw 26. The screw passes through a corresponding bore in a small lift 28 formed of leather or other suitable material and holds the same onto the stud. The stud, for reasons of economy, is preferably a simple metal rod, steel being preferred because of its strength.

The threaded end 22 ofthe stud should not protrude the stud has been threaded tightly into the plate. .Since the stud is cylindrical, for reasons of economy, there will be a slightly discontinuity where the stud meets the lower end of the projection 18. This discontinuity may be eliminated by providing a fillet 30 which encases the stud Where it meets the projection. In order to maintain the stud permanently within the plate, it may be soldered or welded thereto, and the fillet 30 may be constituted by the soldering or welding metal. In some instances it may be desirable to form the plate and the stud integrally in a single casting or molding operation.

It is contemplated that the skeleton comprising the plate 12 and the stud 14 may constitute the finished heel of the shoe, particularly where they are formed of a suitable polished metal. The heel may be decorated by ap plying a coating to the skeleton. This may be accomplished, for example, by spraying a suitable material onto the skeleton or by electrodeposition of metal. In the preferred form shown, the skeleton is provided with a covering of sheet material, for example, leather. This material may be formed in two parts 32 and 34 as shown in Figures 3 and 4. Part 32 is cut similar in shape to the plate 12 but of slightly larger dimensions. The edges of this part may be pinked, as shown, and the sheet material is provided with a hole 36 corresponding in location to the projection 18. The covering 32 is applied to the plate by slipping it over the assembled plate and stud and folding back the extremities of the material over the corresponding edges of the plate, as shown in Figure 2. The covering may be attached to the plate adhesively. Portion 34 of the covering material may be formed as a generally rectangular strip which is wrapped about the stud 14 so that the seam is located at the front of the stud, and the covering may be adhesively attached to the stud. Either portion 32 or portion 34 may be applied first, but

heel. end toreduce its thickness, and the inner sole may;

support alining orv pad42l .A conventional steel stiffening shank 44 is also provided. The manner in which the sole of the shoe is constructed may be conventional.

In order that the heel may be attached to the sole, the sole is provided with preformed holes 46 (one of which is shown in Figure 2) therethrough arranged to correspond spacially with the location of the projections 16 of the plate 12. These holes may be formed in a C011.

ventional punching operation. In order that the heel and sole may be properly assembled, it is important that the holes becorrectly located and oriented on the sole. This represents no manufacturing problem, however, since the sole may be held in a suitable jig during the formation of the holes.

The heel and sole are joined quite simply by merely inserting the bosses 16 in the corresponding holes of. the sole with the upper surface of the plate 12 against the lower surface of the sole. The bosses thus serve to align the heel properly. A screw 48 having a thin head that ispreferably countersunk is then threaded tightly into each of the bosses from the upper side of the sole, as shown, the leather of the inner sole being compressed to accommodate the head of the screw therein. If the threaded holes 17 in the bosses pass all the way through the plate 12, the length of the screws must be chosen so that the screws do not protrude from the bottom of the plate, and if the holes 17 are formed blind from the top of the plate, the screws must be short enough so that they do not project above the upper surface of the inner sole when they are threaded tightly into the plate. If desired, an adhesive may be applied between the upper surface of the plate and the lower surface of the outer sole. Once the heel and sole have been assembled, the pad or liner 42 may be attached.

' It will be. apparent that the invention provides a shoe construction which is extremely simple and economical,

' yet which ensures that the heel is properly aligned with the sole. and rigidly held thereon. The arrangement .of the bosses prevents twisting of the heel about the axis of the stud. No esthetically objectionable fastenings are visible, and the assembled heel provides an extremely slim and pleasing appearance. While a preferred form of the invention has been shown and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that changes may be made in this form without departing from the principles of the invention, the scope of which is defined in the appended claims. Accordingly, the embodiment illustrated is to be taken as exemplary rather than restrictive of the invention and those modifications which come. within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are included therein.

What is claimed is:

1. In a shoe construction, a plate having a plurality of spaced integral internally threaded bosses extending from its upper surface and an integral internally threaded projection extending from itslower surface, a stud threaded into said projection, a'sole having holes therethrough to receive and orient said bosses therein with said upper plate surface against the lower surface of said sole, and a plurality of screws threaded into said bosses from the upper side of said sole.

2. The construction of claim 1, wherein the lower surface of said plate is covered by a sheet of material having a hole aligned with said projection and having its extremities folded over the edges of said plate.

3. A high heel construction for a ladys shoe comprising an attaching plate having a plurality of integral internally threaded bosses extending from its upper surface and having a stud extending from its lower surface, said stud constituting the sole support for the heel portion of the shoe. 7

References Cited in the file of this patent NI D TA ES ATENT 2,361,062 Rosenberg Oct. 24, 1944 

